Machine for opening and refintshing cans



M. G. CLYMER AND A. E. RITCHEY. MACHINE FOR OPENING AND REFINISHINGCANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1918'. 1,317,001. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

2 SHEEfS-SHEET l.

M. G. CLYMER AND A. E. RITCHEY. MACHINE FOR OPENING AND REFINISHINGCANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1918.

1 ,3 1 7,001. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ff F f [I [I1 I t lllllll l u na J i I t t p at *UNIT-ED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

MILTON G. CLYMER AND ARTHUR E. RITCHEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURISpecification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed June 12, 1918. Serial No. 289.624.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that we, MILTON G. CLYMER and ARTHUR E. RITCHEY, bothcitizens of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, in the Stateof Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in.Machines for O 'ening and Refinishing Cans, of which the f0 lowing is aspecification.

This invention relates to a machine for opening and refinishing cans.

Many commodities, such as canned fruits, are packed and shipped in cans,and in establishments manufacturing preserves, large numbers of thesecans must daily be opened to utilize the contents thereof. Now this notonly requires considerable labor, but the open cans, when opened by thepresent methods and mechanisms employed are unfit for further use, andmust, therefore, be discarded and sold for junk, even though these cansmay be in excellent, condition and can readily be utilized. Furthermore,the cans, on account of being shipped, are often bent and dentedconsiderably so as to not only prevent their being effectively opened,but also used again.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a machinewhereby the cans can be readily opened with a minimum of labor anexpense, and without damaging the contents thereof.

Another object is to provide a machine which will refinish and contourthe opened edge of the can, so as to enable it to be subse uently used.

urther objects will appear from the detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodyingthis invention;

Fi 2 is a plan of the support or table for t e can;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33, Fig. 1, and showing thecutting and refinishing head;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged section on the line 44, Fig. 1, showing theoperating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail of Fig. 3, showing the operation of the mechanism incutting a can head and refinishing its edge;

Fig. 6 is a view of a can head;

Fig. 7 is a similar view but showing the head partially severed;

8 is a section on the line 8-8, Fig. 6;

F g. 9 is a section on the line 9-9, Fig. 7;

F1 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showingthe head completelysevered, and the edge completely refinished, with the rim positlonedthereover; and,

F1g. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but

ShOWIIIg the rim in final attached position,

and the cover in place.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 designates a machine frame orcolumn, which has a bracket 2 adapted to support a table 3, which ismounted on a shank 4, sliding vertically in a bearing 5 on the bracket2. The shank 4 is connected to one end of a lever 6, pivotedintermediate its ends at 7 on the frame 1, and connected at its otherend by a link 8 with a lever 9, pivoted on 21, with the treadle 22 onthe base. Upon depression of the treadle the clutch is shifted toconnect the disk 14 with the shaft, and cause a vertical reciprocationwith the table 3, as hereinafter described.

Mounted on the frame 1 is an overhanging bracket 23, which has a bearin24 adapted to receive a shank 25 of a head 26, positioned directly overthe table, the head being adapted for adjustment vertically by The arm 9is provided with a slot the sliding engagement of the shank 25 with thebearing 24, this head being locked in adjusted position by a set screw27.

The head comprises an annular uide 28 which flares at its lower end as sown at 29, to take over the can. Arranged inside of this head is acutter 30, whlch has a serrated cutting edge 31, adapted to cut the headof the can. It will be noted that the cutter is spaced from the guide,and that the annular recess between the cutter and the guide extendsbeyond and past the terminatlon of the cutting edge ofthe cutter, asshown at 32, for a pur ose hereinafter to be described. The table 3 isprovided with positioning guides 33, which is adapted to position a canunderneath and in correct cooperative relation with respect to the head26. -When, therefore, this can 0 is in position on the table, and thetreadle 22 is depressed, the" table will rise and force the can intocooperative relation with the head. This will cause the can to enter theflaring guide 28-29, and rise therein until the head of the can isengaged by the serrated edge 31 of the cutter 30, which will causethe-cutter to cut the can head along and at a definite and predetermineddistance' from the outer edge of the can. During the first part of themovement, the cutter will puncture the can head at numerous points, andout along the edge until the head is completely severed. Thereafter,further movement will cause the out can edge and the rim to enter thespace 32, between the cutter and the guide, so as to force the rimtherein, and press and wipe the cut edge against the inside face of thecan body, 'as shown in Fig. 5. This action will concurrently straightenout the bent edge of a can, and contour the rim so as to make thefinished edge a perfect circle, with both the outside and the insideedges of the rim refinished. When the table again drops, the can willdrop with it partly by its weight and partly due to the wedge connectionwith the guides 33, and can then be removed from the table, the headwhich is now loose in the can taken out, and the contents discharged.

Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive illustrate more fully the method employed, ofcutting and refinishing the can. In, Fig. 7 the head H of the can hasbeen partially cut by the serrated cutting edge 31, as shown at A, andthe cut edge has been partially bent against the inside face of the canbody. Fig. 10 shows the cut edge B completely pressed against the insideface of the can body, and it will be noted that in view of the fact thatthis action takes place while the can is engaged on the outside by theguide, and while the can is thus supported, the edge B is presseduniformly around and against the face of the can body, so as to form acompletely refinished inslde edge. Concurrently, the

' outer edge of the can, that is, the folded over part D of the headrim, has been refinished and contoured and made perfectly circular bythe engagement of the inside face of the guide therewith. Accordingly,both the inside and outside faces of the rim have been refinished, andthis finish is smooth, on account of the wiping action of the cutter andof the guide. There. is thus provided a smooth circular rim which isrefinished on I both its outside and its inside faces.

During the first or cutting operation, the

points will first penetrate the can head, each point cutting from itscenter outwardly with a draw out and causing the metal of the head orcenter part to curl, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9; and the last part of thecutting operation is a tearing operation at the points of connectionbetween the center part and the rim. The center part does not,therefore, enter that part of the cutter above the bases of the Urecesses formed by the teeth of the serrated edge 31, but these basestear the points of connection loose, thereby permitting the cut centerpart to drop down into the can, where it can readily be picked out,especially since the wiping action, heretofore described, has pressedthe inside'cut portion against the can body, and has therefore, widenedthe mouth of the open can. By adjusting the head 26 vertically on thebracket 23, the extent of movement of the can body into the head can beadjusted to correspond with the height of a can to be opened. Thisadjustment also governs the extent of the wiping action. It will beunderstood'that since the metal of which cans are generally made, iscomparatively ductile and not springy, the bending and shaping of thecan edge, will cause these parts to remain in shaped position; so thatupon retracting movement of the table, the can will readily drop with itout of engagement with the head 26 and the cutter therein.

In order to provide a rim which can be readily closed by a cover, aformed rim E, having a finished inside face F, is placed over therefinished rim of the can, and the outer flange G'is folded over thecan, or in any suitable manner, so as to make a firm attachment thereto.This can be done in any suitable manner. The can is thus provided with afinished rim which can receive a suitable cover 1.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects. ,Themachine is simple in construction and operation, and not only will itrapidly cut the head out of a can without disturbing its contents, butthe cut edge is so refinished and the rim is so 'contoured as to providea container which can be used again, and which is in fact just as goodas new.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from thespirit of this invention. It is,therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited tothe specific details described and shown.

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with an annular guide adapted I to take over the head ofacan soas to sustain the same along its edge, of an annular cutteradapted to cut the can along but inside of, said guide.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of meansfor sustainin all portions ofthe can along its edge an cooperating with said cutter adapted torefinish the edge of the can so sustained.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of means for sustainin all portions ofthe can along its edge an cooperating With said cutteradapted to pressthe cut edge of the can against the sustained body thereof.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of means for sustaining the can alonits edge and cooperating with said cutter ad apted to contour the edgeof the can so sustained.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the headof a can, of means for sustaining the can alongits edge and cooperating with said cutter adapted to-contour thee ge ofthecan s0 sustained and press the cut edge of the can against thesustained bo y thereof.

7. In a machine'of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of a guide adapted totake over thehead of the can so as to sustain the same along its edge while beingout, constructed and arranged to refinish th edge of the can sosustained.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of a guide adapted to take over thehead of the can so as to sustain the same along its edge while beingcut, and adapted to contour the edge thereof while .so sustained. a

9. In a machine of the class described, th combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of a guide adapted to take over thehead of the can so as to sustain the same along its edge while bein cut,constructed and arranged to press t e cut edge of the can against thebody thereof while so sustained. v

10. In a machine of the class described, a head comprising an annularcutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and an annular guide spacedfrom said cutter and adapted to take over the head of the can sosustained.

11. In amachine of the class described, a head comprising an annularcutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and an annular guide spacedfrom said cutter and adapted to take over the head of the can so as tosustain the same along its edge while being cut, constructed andarranged to refinish the edge of the can while so sustained.

12. In a machine of the class described, a head comprising an annularcutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and an annular flaring guidespaced from said cutter and adapted to take over the head of the can sosustained.

13. In a machine of the class described, a head comprising an annularcutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and an annular guide spacedfrom said cutter and adapted to take over the head of the can so as tosustain the same along its edge While being cut, said cutter and guidebeing constructed and arranged to rovide an annular space beyond thecuttin edge of the cutter.

14. In a mac iine of the class described, the combination with a frame,of a base thereon adapted to support a can, a head on said framecomprising an annular cutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and anannular guide spaced from said cutter and adapted to take over the headof the can so as to sustain the same along its edge While being cut, andmechanism for moving said base and said head relatively.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame,of a base thereon adapted to support a can, a head on said framecomprising an annular cutter adapted to cut the head of a can, and anannular guide s aced from said cutter and adapted to ta e over the headof the can so as to sustain the same alon its edge while being cut,constructed an? arranged to finish the edge of the can while sosustained, and mechanism for moving said base and said head relatively.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut thehead of a can, of means for encircling the can alonits edge and outside of the line of cut, ad apted to sustain the canalong its edge against the action of the cutter.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can, of means for encircling the can alonits edge and outside of the line of cut, a apted to sustain the canalong its edge against the action of the cutter and adapted to contourthe can edge.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can and adapted to press the cut portionoutwardly against the can body, of means for encircling the can alongits edge and outside of the line of cut, adapted to sustain the canalong its edge against the action of the cutter.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cutteradapted to cut the head of a can and adapted to press & I 1,317,001

the cut portion outwardly against the can body, of means for encirclingthe can along its edge and outside of the line of cut, adapted tosustain the can along its edge against the action of the cutter andadapted to contour the can edge.

20. In a machine of the class described having a cutter adapted to cutthe head of a can along the can edge, characterized by the fact thatthere is combined with the cutter an annular guide which is adapted totake over the can and sustain the can edge against the action of thecutter.

21. In a machine of the class described having a cutter adapted to cutthe head of a can along the can edge, characterized by the fact thatthere is combined with the cutter an annular flaring guide which isadapted to take over and contour the can and sustain the can edgeagainst the action of the cutter.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a tubularguide adapted to take over the head of a--can so as to sustain the samealong its edge, of a tubular cutter adapted to cut the can along butinside of said guide.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa tures this 3rd day of June,1918.

MILTON G. CLYMlER. ARTHUR E. RITCHEY.

